Effects of bovine alpha-lactalbumin and casein glycomacropeptide-enriched infant formulae on faecal microbiota in healthy term infants

Bruck, W.M., Redgrave, M., Tuohy, K.M., Lonnerdal, B., Graverholt, G., Hernell, O. and Gibson, G.R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0566-0476 (2006) Effects of bovine alpha-lactalbumin and casein glycomacropeptide-enriched infant formulae on faecal microbiota in healthy term infants. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 43 (5). pp. 673-679. ISSN 0277-2116 doi: 10.1097/01.mpg.0000232019.79025.8f

Abstract/Summary

Objective: Certain milk factors may promote the growth of a host-friendly gastrointestinal microbiota, for example, one that is predominated by bifidobacteria, a perceived healthpromoting genus. This may explain why breast-fed infants experience fewer intestinal infections than their formula-fed counterparts who are believed to have a more diverse microbiota, which is similar to that of adults. The effects of formulas supplemented with 2 such ingredients from bovine milk, a-lactalbumin (alpha-lac) and casein glycomacropeptide (GMP), on gut flora were investigated in this study. Patients and Methods: Six-week-old (4-8 wk), healthy term infants were randomised to a standard infant formula or 1 of 2 test formulae enriched in alpha-Jac with higher or lower GMP until 6 months. Faecal bacteriology was determined by the culture-independent procedure fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Results: There was a large fluctuation of bacterial counts within groups with no statistically significant differences between groups. Although all groups showed a. predominance of bifidobacteria, breast-fed infants had a small temporary increase in counts. Other bacterial levels varied in formula-fed groups, which overall showed an adult-like faecal microflora. Conclusions: It can be speculated that a prebiotic effect for alpha-lac and GMP is achieved only with low starting populations of beneficial microbiota (eg, infants not initially breast-fed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/13532
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords	infant nutrition, casein glycomacropeptide, alpha-lactalbumin, fluorescence in situ hybridization, human trials, HUMAN-MILK, RHESUS-MONKEYS, BACTERIA, MODULATION, PREBIOTICS
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